Chapter 42: Evie on the Edge
Young Evie tried her best to walk silently, lifting her heels from the floor to avoid any creaking sounds.
Although she made it past the treacherous wooden floor to the thick carpet, she never let down her guard.
Evie cautiously crossed the sunlit room.
A person sat in the armchair by the window—the astrologer wearing a black robe with a hood that concealed his face.
He had just been reading a book.
But now, one of his hands lay on his stomach, and the other beside his leg, motionless.
Moreover, the breeze sneaking through the window flipped the pages of the book on his lap, but he simply let it be.
He must be asleep, right?
The astrologer's lips, visible between the hood, remained peacefully closed.
Confident he was asleep, young Evie gently bit her lower lip.
Then, like a predator readying to pounce, she shot a serious and focused gaze.
Step by step, Evie closed the gap cautiously, holding her breath as she reached her hand towards the astrologer.
It was when her small hand finally reached the edge of his hood, past his shoulder.
"Nope."
A laughter-tinged voice accompanied by a gentle grip wrapped around Evie's wrist.
The astrologer, now awake, gently stopped Evie, who, despite being caught doing something mischievous, feigned outrage.
"Weren't you asleep?"
"Yes, just for a moment."
"Then how did you know? Did you hear my footsteps?"
The astrologer only smiled, and Evie, irritated, shook his armchair vigorously.
Despite being rocked back and forth, the astrologer clung to his hood and laughed helplessly.
With this, Evie's fourth attempt to glimpse the astrologer's face ended in failure.
This count was only for the current month; if counting all past attempts, even ten fingers folded and unfolded several times weren't enough.
As much as Evie should have given up by now, and as much as the astrologer had a right to be annoyed, they both remained unchanged.
Evie persistently sought new chances while the astrologer, instead of scolding her, merely chuckled softly.
Exhausted from trying to pester the astrologer, Evie plopped down on the nearby sofa and spoke with a face full of dissatisfaction.
"Don't you think it's too much? It's been nearly two years living together, yet you haven't shown your face. How long are we going to keep things formal?"
Though her voice was defiant, the astrologer laughed. So, Evie gave him a sharp glare.
"Don't laugh, this is a very serious issue."
"What's so serious about it?"
"What if something happens and we get separated? I wouldn't recognize you if I wanted to find you, since I don't even know your face or name."
"You don't have to worry about that. I'll find you."
The astrologer spoke calmly and without hesitation.
Evie's tense eyebrows relaxed instantly.
Evie, who had been upset, couldn't help but feel happy with those words, lighting up her eyes with delight before quickly narrowing her brows again.
"That just makes it more serious. What if I don't recognize you?"
"Listen! Don't laugh!"
Evie spoke seriously once more, but the astrologer didn't really listen, his shoulders shaking with laughter at Evie's vivid facial expressions.
The astrologer laughed until Evie's face turned red with anger, then spoke soothingly.
"Don't worry about that, either. You'll certainly recognize me."
The astrologer's voice was calm and tender.
Thus, Evie felt something strange.
Her chest felt heavy, yet also as if something ticklish was blooming.
In her daze, tears began to fall without her realizing it.
The astrologer asked why she was crying, but Evie couldn't answer.
Never had the world been kind to Evie—not a drop of sympathy but filled with merciless traps, requiring a day's worth of miracles just to survive another day.
A world she used to resent so much had become bearable because of meeting him.
Evie wept, feeling both sadness at such thoughts and gratitude for his presence, biting her lip.
For a long time, she cried, feeling the gentle stroke of a tender hand on her head.
But as time passed, that person became a dearly missed liar, and Evie had no choice but to hate the now cold world more than ever.
...
Evie was running.
She ran tirelessly in pitch-black darkness.
Her breath was already at the tip of her throat but stopping was not an option.
If she stopped, the ground beneath would crumble, ending everything.
So Evie ran.
Just a little further, just a little more—she urged herself onwards.
But then, a faint question rose from a corner of her mind.
'How long do I have to keep running?'
'I've been running non-stop, yet why am I still running like this?'
'It's agonizing. But I must endure. Why?'
'Ah, yes. I'm going to become the Saintess.'
'Then I can rest; I just need to hold on a little longer.'
At that thought, a light appeared at the far end of the darkness.
She saw it.
The long, dark path was finally ending.
But just before diving into the light, the ground beneath Evie gave way.
When she came to, it was black, viscous swamp all around.
The heavy and sticky swamp clutched Evie's body, while the light once close enough to touch moved further away.
No, wait!
Evie struggled to wade through the swamp.
However, her exhausted limbs felt like lead, making it tough to push forward.
Despite not giving up and exerting herself relentlessly, a low voice reached her ears.
It was the fearsome and stern voice of a certain Count.
—I don't think it suits you at all, becoming the Saintess.
Evie gritted her teeth at his words that seemed to crush her spirit.
I know! I know it doesn't suit me!
—Even if you became one, you'd only be used.
So what if I'm used? At least being used lets people treat me like a human being; what do you want me to do about it then?
Evie ground her teeth, repelling that devilish voice.
Then came a teasing voice.
—Becoming the Saintess? Interesting. Fine, give it a try.
Evie, angered by the playful mockery of the Tower Lord, found some reassurance.
Okay, I'll give it a try.
Please, stay interested and keep watching.
Don't worry, I'll do as you desire.
I don't want to be cast out from this stage.
Beyond is nothing but ruin for someone like me without anything.
Though she thought she'd been wading through the swamp, suddenly Evie found herself among people, dressed splendidly.
Yet all those around had no faces.
Only their aristocrat-like attire and gestures signaled that they were nobles.
Evie greeted them as politely as possible.
But as soon as Evie spoke, they turned away in anger.
Only then did Evie realized she was cursed.
Realizing that, her body sank again to the floor.
And a sweet voice rang in her ears.
『You've come to see me already?』
A huge, white snake had wrapped itself around Evie.
『I'm pleased. Enjoying my meal.』
It opened its mouth, and this time, she was finally devoured.
A white silence enveloped Evie.
Evie, half dazed, slowly caught her breath and looked around.
There lay a path.
The path where Evie must continue running, but now she didn't have the heart to face it.
The path loomed like a tightrope over a sheer cliff.
Even persevering further only conjured images of a misstep and a fall.
The liar who aspired to become the Saintess for survival found herself unable to even lie anymore, standing before a grave.
Having come to this standstill, with nothing feasible to do, Evie bit her lip in unjust frustration.
At that moment, a rabbit spoke.
『Just become an honest Saintess.』
And then, Evie awakened from her dream.
...
Evie gasped as she opened her eyes.
A unfamiliar ceiling greeted her.
Evie, staring absentmindedly at the ornate ceiling, let out a deep sigh.
"... No wonder I had a bad dream—it was because I'm at Rio Tuha's house."
Realizing the cause of her nightmare, Evie rose sluggishly from the bed and approached the window.
Drawing back the curtains and opening the window, she saw the deep blue sky.
It was early dawn, Evie's favorite time of the day.
The chill of the morning air gently swept away the remnants of sleep.
With that moment of respite, she finally took in the sight of the abundant Wisteria blooming beneath the dusky sky.
This was the Tuha family's villa.
Today marked the second day of the spring Wisteria Festival.
Spring was the season of Manyanya.
Manyanya, who is compassionate and cleanses filth, closely resembled the nurturing touch of spring.
Thus, the Tuha family, long known for producing the Saintesss, held spring in high regard, cultivating their gardens beautifully and hosting festivals.
Today, the second day of the Wisteria festival, the current Saintess, Roble Tuha, was scheduled to participate in the festivities.
Evie reviewed the day's planned agenda while gazing at the magnificent garden.
However, curiously, neither the beautiful blossoms nor her musings seemed to focus.
Wondering why, Evie realized belatedly that her mind was a tangled mess, like a tightly wound skein.
It was early dawn, yet Evie's mood was already heavy.
The troubling dream from the night prior, combined with the disturbing events involving the Marquis of Montera the previous day, weighed on her.
Feigning composure in front of others, Evie was deeply unsettled by the Marquis's actions.
And when the Count Laurel, expressed anger over it, Evie felt humiliated to the point of biting her tongue.
Though the Count and Marquis acted differently, Evie felt equally mistreated by both.
One treated her like a toy because he was upset with others, and the other, while defending her, treated her like a helpless child.
Despite her dissatisfaction, Evie could do nothing but smile gently at both men.
Some people never showed resentment.
Yet, even if time turned back for the second chance, Evie would probably make the same choice.
Because it was the best choice she could make—though slightly cowardly, it was eventually clever and safe.
Being a peasant-born candidate to be the Saintess in a noble world was akin to a lone lamb in a den of wolves.
Thus, she had no choice but to cover herself to avoid falling prey to the wolves' whims.
No matter how demeaning and embarrassing, she convinced herself it was the most beneficial decision.
So as always, Evie gathered her resolve tightly.
However, the more she did, the closer she found herself cornered at the edge of a precipice, nearing her limits.
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